Dispensing device



Aug. 26, 1958 J. N. TUTTLE 2,849,153

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed June 29, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 26, 1958 J. N. TUTTLE DISPENSING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29, 1956 m Nm 3 I villain,

@EZZZLZF Aug. 26, 1958 J. N. TUTTLE DISPENSING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 29, 1956 @zazziaw Aug. 26, 1958 J. N. TUTTLE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed June 29, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 JQV/V 4/ 70/7115 United States Patent ()fi ice lander Paper Company, Rhinelander, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application June 29, 1956, Serial No. 594,899

4 Claims. (Cl. 221-57) This invention relates to dispensing devices, and more particularly to dispensing devices of a type adapted to contain and dispense sheets of paper or the like from an interleaved stack.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application for United States Letters Patent, Serial Number 468,749, filed November 15, 1954.

A general object of my invention is the provision of a new and improved dispensing device, having improved and advantageous operating characteristics.

A further object is the provision of novel means interlocking the housing of such a device with a pressure plate which supports and pushes a stack of sheets toward the dispensing opening of the housing, the interlocking arrangement being such that the housing cannot be opened unless the pressure plate is in a retracted or non-pushing position.

Another object is the provision of a dispensing device having a frame and a housing movably carried thereon between a loading position and a dispensing position, a supporting or pressure plate for pressing a stack of sheets towards the dispensing opening of the housing, and latch means for holding the pressure plate in a non-pressing retracted position, all in a novel combination in which the pressure plate latch also co-operates to hold the housing closed except when the pressure plate is in nonpressing position.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel operating means which automatically releases the pressure plate for pressing of the stacked sheets towards the dispensing opening in response to movement of the operating means to secure the housing of the device in operative position, after loading of the device.

A still further object is the provision of novel latch means and mechanism for a dispensing device.

A still further object is the provision of novel means supporting a stack of sheets to be dispensed, and for pressing such a stack toward the sheet-dispensing opening of the device.

A further object is the provision of a dispensing device having a new and improved sheet-dispensing opcning specially adapted to provide for withdrawal of sheets even at substantial angles from the normal to the dispensing slot, without wrinkling or tearing, thereby facilitating rapid and effortless removal of the sheets dispensed.

A still further object is the provision of a dispensing device having a novel dispensing slot adapted to support a sheet in a raised or upstanding manner to further facilitate grasping and removal thereof.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description of illustrative embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a dispenser device embodying principles and concepts of the present invention;

2,849,153 Patented Aug. 26, 1958 Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof, shown in reduced scale;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view thereof, one of the supporting legs shown as removed;

Figure 5 is an isometric View of one ofthe supporting legs for such a device;

Figure 6 is a transverse, cross-sectional view through the dispenser of Figure 1, taken generally along the line VIVI of Figs. 1 and 7, and showing the pressure plate in a downward or retracted position;

Figure 7 is a fragmental longitudinal, cross-sectional view thereof taken generally along the line VII-VII of Fig. 6, with the pressure plate retracted;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the device, but illustrating a condition in which the pressure plate is in operating position to bias a stack of sheets toward the dispensing opening of the device;

Figure 9 is a horizontal cross-sectional View, with portions shown broken away, taken generally along the line IX-IX of Fig. 8; and

Figure 10 is a fragmental, longitudinal, cross-sectional view generally corresponding to Fig. 8, but illustrating alternative pressure plate control and biasing means.

The illustrated form of dispenser device 10 includes a base or frame 12 upon which is mounted an enclosure or hood such as the housing 14. A hinge 16 is shown as extending along the rearward junction of the base or frame 12 and housing 14 to pivotally interconnect them so that the housing 14 may be swung or pivoted between a loading or open position (not illustrated) and the operating or closed position illustrated in which it is adapted to enclose a stack of sheets to be dispensed from the device.

According to one of the important features of this invention, novel means provide a dispensing slot 20 in the upper panel 22 of the housing 14. The dispensing slot 20 is defined by opposed, generally convex edges 24 extending longitudinally along the panels 22, and as shown best in Figs. 2 and 6, the dispensing slot extends downwardly into the upper portions of the end panels 26 of the housing 14, as indicated by the edges 28. It will be observed that the end portions 30 of the edges 28 are smoothly rounded or curved. The ends of the top panel edges 24 flare outwardly from a reduced-width, intermediate portion 32 to a widened portion outwardly adjacent the ends of the slot, as indicated by the rounded or flared portions 34, where they merge into the rounded edges 30 in the end panels 26 of the housing 14.

The resulting, generally hour-glass shaped, dispensing slot 20, which provides greater slot width or relief at the ends of the slot than in the center, with this relief extending into the end panels of the dispensing device itself, accomplishes the purpose of permitting withdrawal of sheets at substantial angles from the normal to the dispensing slot, without wrinkling or tearing the sheet. Tearing and wrinkling of sheets during a dispensing operation, particularly when the user exerts a pull-out force at a substantial angle to the slot, is one of the prime difiiculties with other dispensers. The ease with which sheets may be dispensed by virtue of this novel slot construction and configuration provides a great advantage to the ser, an advantage not possessed by other dispensers of which I am aware.

Another important and closely related feature is illustrated by the portions 36 of the top housing panels 22, which are bent or formed upwardly adjacent the edges 24 to present the slot edges 24 upwardly or upstanding from the general plane of the top housing panels 22. This provides a support of the exposed edge of a sheet to be dispensed, away from the panel 22, providing more convenient access to that sheet and further facilitating removal of the sheet at angles from the normal of the dispensing slot.

According to other features of the present invention novel means are provided to support a stack of sheets to be dispensed, and to press or bias the stack upwards towards the dispensing slot 20.

Such means includes a pressure plate 40 shown as formed as a sheet metal pan-like or tray-like stamping.

For supporting the pressure plate 40, means such as supporting leaves or arms 42 are provided, and supported by the base 12. The arms 42 are shown as stamped from heavy sheet metal. As shown, they have their outer, upper edges formed or rounded over as at 44 to provide a plate-supporting portion which is smoothly rounded to accommodate a relative sliding thereover by the pressure plate 40 during movement, as the arms 42 move between an upstanding or plate-elevating position illustrated best in Figs. 8 and 9, and a lowered or plateretracted position shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

For supporting the supporting arms 42 for such movement, the end portions thereof remote from the platesupporting portions 44 are formed to provide spaced downwardly-extending supporting tabs or cars 48. Further, hinge-pin or pivot-pin means such as cotter pins 50 pass through aligned openings provided in those ears 48 and through aligned openings provided in associated spaced base supports such as the ears 52 shown as struck integrally up from the metal of the base 12.

For biasing each of the supporting arms 42 into their upward, plate-elevating position, there is shown a spring means comprising a double-section torsion spring 54, having ends 56 engaging the upper surface of the base 12, and having the bight 58 which interconnects the two spring sections engaging under the supporting arm 42. Each of the springs 54 is sleeved over one of the cotter pins 50.

For limiting upward movement of the supporting arms 42, each of the supporting arms 42 extends past the axis of cotter pin 50 to provide a nose 59 which abuttingly engages the base 12.

Preventing dis-association of the supporting arms 42 and the pressure plate 40, a tongue 60 is shown as extending from the plate 40 adjacent each end thereof, the tongues shown as struck integrally downwardly from the plane of the plate 40 and each received in an opening or elongated slot 62 provided in the associated supporting arm 42.

As most clearly illustrated in Figure 9, the cross-over portion 64 of the supporting arm 42 at the outer end of the slot 62 extends over or overlies the associated tongue 60, thus preventing dis-association of the pressure plate 40 and its tongues 60 from the supporting arms 42 in positions of full or nearly full extension of the supporting arms 42.

In positions of lesser extension of the supporting arms, where the arm-portions 64 are laterally beyond the tongues 60 and hence ineffective to co-operate therewith, as in Figure 7, each tongue is transversely extended as by ears 64a which underlie the edges of the support-arm slot 62. Assembly of the tongue-ears 64a is permitted by correspondingly shaped recesses 64b provided in the supporting arms 42 adjacent the cross-over portions 64 at the outer ends of the slot 62.

According to still another important feature of the present invention, novel operating means are provided, one function of which is to provide a latch-like retaining of the pressure plate 40 in its retracted position. This is of particular advantage during the operation of loading the dispensing device.

Accordingly, the latch means shown comprises a leverlife keeper member 66 shown as formed from sheet metal and pivotally connected to the base 12 as by a rivet 68. The keeper member 66 at its forward end extends through an. opening 70 in. the base 12 to provide a manipulating handle 72. At its rearward or inner end, the keeper member 66 is shown as provided with means engageable with the pressure plate 40 to latchingly retain the pressure plate in retracted position. As shown, such means includes an ear or tab 76 upstanding from keeper 66 and having an opening 78 provided therein. Co-operating with the opening 78 is a latch finger 80 shown formed as a part of a generally arrow-head-shaped latch member 82 shown as an ear integrally struck down from the pressure plate 40. As is best illustrated in Fig. 7, interengagement of the latch finger 80 with the portion of the ear 76 above the opening 78 latchingly retains the pressure-plate car 82 and the keeper member 66 releasably latched, thereby to latch the pressure plate 40 in its retracted position.

For effecting a latched engagement of the keeper ear 76 over the latch portion 80, means are provided to swing the keeper 66 from the position shown in Fig. 8, in which the ear 76 is in a relatively rightward position out of line with the latch finger 80, to a relatively leftward position such as is illustrated in Fig. 7 in which the keeper ear 76 is in line with the latch portion 80 and is latchingly associated therewith. To this end, as is illustrated best in Fig. 8, as the pressure plate 40 is depressed, the arrow-head shaped latch member 82 travels parallel to the reference chain line 84 to the broken-line position of the latch member 82, whereupon the leading edge 86 of latch member 82 engages an ear 88 upstanding from the keeper 66 opposite the ear 76 thereof. Continued movement downwardly of pressure plate 40 and the latch member 82 thereby acts against the ear 88 to shift or swing the keeper 66 leftwardly to the position shown in Fig. 7, where the latch finger 80 is latched in the opening 78 of the keeper ear 76, as above described. This holds the plate 40 in the stack-depressed condition, particularly desirable to accommodate loading.

According to still another feature of the present invention, means are provided to retain the housing 14 in its stack-enclosing position, with interlock means shown as preventing the opening of the housing 14 except when the pressure plate 40 is in its lowered or retracted position in which it is not biasing the stack of sheets upwardly. To that end, there is shown as rigidly connected to the housing 14 a finger 90 or the like (Fig. 1) which barely engages under the forward portion of the keeper 66, when the keeper 66 is in the position occupied when the pressure plate 40 is latched down. In that position of the keeper 66, as is shown in Fig. 7, the rearward or inner portion of the keeper 66 there visible is in the leftward position, but it will be understood that the forwardly extending keeper-portion 72 opposite from the keeper pivot rivet 68 will be in a corresponding relatively rightward position. Such is the position of the keeper 66 and its forward portion 72 as illustrated in Fig. 1, and in that position, the resiliency of the parts and of the connection of hinge 16 and the like permits the user to manipulate the housing relatively to the base to effect a relatively leftward movement of the housing 14 which will disengage the finger 90 from the keeper 66 to permit the housing 14 to be opened, as for re-loading.

However, when the pressure plate 40 is not in its retracted position, housing-locking means now to be described cause the forward portion 72 of keeper 66 to be in a relatively leftward position in comparison to that shown in Fig. 1, and hence in a position in which disengagement of the keeper 66 and the finger 90 is blocked. To that end, as is shown best in Fig. 8, the ear 88 of the keeper 66 is engaged by a portion 91 of the adjacent supporting arm 42 when the supporting arms 42 are in their upward position. Accordingly, the keeper cannot be swung to move the forward portion 72 of the keeper 66 rightwardly, for the corresponding relatively leftward movement of the rearward portion of the keeper 66 and of the keeper ear 88 is blocked by the adjacent portion 91 of the suporting arm 42. The keeper 66 remains so blocked hence preventing opening of the housing 14, except when the supporting arms 42 have swung towards the plate-retracted position of Figure 7 an amount sufi'icient that the keeper ear 88 may move to the left into a relieved portion provided by a notch 92 provided me lower portion of the supporting arm 42. Only when the keeper car 88 is thus free to move to the left can the forward keeper portion 72 move correspondingly to the right to the Figure 1 position in which the housing finger 90 can be disengaged to permit the housing 14 to be opened.

Accordingly, it will be seen that when it is desired to open the dispenser, it is first necessary to latch down the pressure plate 40. This may be effected by the user reaching his hand downwardly through the dispensing slot 20 and pressing onto the pressure plate 40 or onto any sheets of paper stacked thereon, to eifect a movement of the pressure plate from its stack-biasing position shown in Fig. 8 to its retracted position shown in Fig. 7.

The necessity of latching down the pressure plate 40, before the finger 90 can be disengaged from the keeper portion 72 as an incident to opening the housing 14, provides that the housing 14 will not be opened in a manner to release the energy of a compressed spring, which release of energy might cause any remaining sheets on the pressure plate to be scattered about the area of the dispensing unit. It also provides that the pressure plate 40 will be in a retracted position adapted to accept a load of sheets, during an operation of re-loading the dispenser.

By this construction, the further advantages are obtained of automatically releasing the pressure plate 40 into its stacked-biasing upraised position automatically in response to movement of the means which secures the housing 14 in its enclosure position. Thus, after the dispensing unit has been re-loaded and the housing 14 brought into enclosing position with respect to the base 12, as the keeper 66 is pivoted in a clock-wise direction in which the keeper ear 76 moves relatively to the right to release the latch finger 80 of the arrow-head-shaped latch member 82, the corresponding relatively leftward movement of the forward keeper-portion 72 effects an engagement of that keeper portion 72 with the housing finger 92 to secure the housing 14 against opening.

According to further principles and concepts of the present invention, the dispensing unit 10 is adapted to be mounted in any of a plurality of mounting positions. To this end, as one of the mounting means available, the base is shown as provided with a pair of laterally aligned key-hole type slots 95 adapted to receive mounting screws or the like. Other mounting possibilities are provided for by the provision of feet or pad-like members 96 at each corner of the base 12.

Alternative mounting means are provided by a pair of legs 97, shown as formed from sheet metal. Desirable means for mounting the legs 97 is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, such means including the provision of one or more bosses 98 (Fig. 5) desirably pressed from the metal of the legs 97, those bosses 98 being receivable in associated recesses or openings 99 suitably provided in the base plate 12 to co-operatively register with the bosses 98. A holding screw 100 (see Fig. 2) is also shown as passing through suitably aligned openings in the leg 97 and the base plate 12. As shown, the legs 97 may be provided with feet or pad-like members 101.

Figure 10 illustrates an alternative pressure plate and stack-supporting and stack-biasing construction. As the construction there shown in many respects may be identical with the pressure plate 40 and biasing means therefor, similar but primed reference numerals are employed to identify parts of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 10 which correspond to parts of the earlier-described embodiment, and the description in such parts given in connection with the first embodiment applies to the modified form illustrated in Fig. 10 except as otherwise noted.

' 6 Accordingly, in Figure 10, there is illustrated a pressure plate'40' supported from a base 12', and a keeper- 'member 66 is carried by the base 12' for latching association with a generally arrow-hcad-shaped latch member 82'. For biasing the pressure plate 40 in its upward position, there is shown adjacent each end of the pressure plate 40' a 'supporting structure including a pair of supporting leaves or arms 42a and 42b pivotally interconnected as by a rivet 103. The supporting arms 42a and 42b are also respectively connected to the pressure plate 40 and to the base 12' by rivets 104 and 105, respectively extending through those supporting arms and through aligned openings provided in support means such as the tabs or ears 106 and 107 shown as integrally struck from the metal of the pressure plate 40 and the base plate 12'.

A spring means 108 is provided to bias the supporting arms 42a and 42b into relatively extended position, thereby biasing the pressure plate 40' into elevated position. As shown, the spring means for each of the supporting structures comprises a torsion spring having ends 109 and 111 respectively engaging the supporting arms 42a and 42b, and held thereagainst as by ears 109a and 111a respectively carried from the supporting arms 42a and 42b. I

It will be understood that the operation of the pressure plate 40, and the keeper 66, of Fig. 10 corresponds to that already described in connection with the operation of the pressure plate 40 and with the keeper member 66.

It will thus be seen that a dispensing device according to the principles and concepts of my invention is of novel construction and has improved and advantageous operating characteristics. An interlocking arrangement is seen to be provided such that the housing 14 cannot be opened unless the pressure plate 4040 is in retracted position. A further advantage achieved is that the pressure-plate latch includes an operating member 66-66 which co-operates to hold the housing 14 in its enclosing position except when the pressure plate 40-' 40' is in retracted position. Another feature achieved is that of automatic release of the pressure plate 40 40' in response to movement of keeper 6666' which secures the housing 14 in its enclosing position. Novel latch means and mechanism are provided, and novel means are provided for supporting a stack of sheets to be dispensed and pressing such a stack towards the sheetdispensing-opening 20 of the dispensing device. Rapid and effortless removal of the sheets dispensed is provided by the novel structure which provides the dispensing slot 20, that structure also supporting the sheets to be dispensed in a conveniently accessible location removed from the plane in which the dispensing slot is located. Other features and advantages are achieved, as above described.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides a new and improved dispensing device having the desired advantages and characteristics, and accomplishing its intended objects, including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention as described.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be eifected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a dispensing device for a stack of sheets to be dispensed, a generally flat frame, a housing having a stack-receiving cavity and having a dispensing opening normally extending generally parallel to said frame through which sheets may be dispensed, means pivotally interconnecting the housing and the frame to permit the entire housing to be moved between an open stackloading position and a stack-enclosing position, a pressure plate supported within the housing to support a .staek of sheets, means ;carried by said frame and supporting the pressure plate, means reacting through. said frame and co-operating with saidpressure plateto bias the said plate to anextended position biasing-the stack towards the dispensing opening in said pivotable housing, said pressure plate having a retracted position non- :biasing said stack, and means operative to latch said ,pressure plate in retracted position with said housing closed and to prevent movement of said housing toward open position except .when said pressure plate is positively retained in non-biasingposition.

2. In a dispensing device for a stackof sheets to be dispensed, a generally flat frame, a housing having a stack-receiving cavity and having a dispensing opening :normally extending generally parallel to said frame -sure plate supported within the housing to support a stack of sheets, means carried by said frame and sup- :porting the pressure plate, means reacting through said .frame and co-operating with said pressure plateto bias the said plate to an extended position biasing the stack towards the dispensing opening in said pivotable housing, said pressure plate having a retracted position nonbiasing said stack, means blocking movement of said housing into open position, and movable means for rendering said blocking means non-operative, said movable means being operated in response to said pressure plates being moved to its retracted position with said housing closed.

3. In a dispensing device for a stack of sheets -to be dispensed, a generally flat frame, a housing having a stack-receiving cavity and having aldispensing opening normally extending generally parallel to said frame through which sheets may be dispensed, means pivotally interconnecting the housing and the frame to permit the entire housing to be moved between an open stack-loading position and a stack-enclosing position, a pressure plate supported within the housing to support a stack of sheets, means carried by said frame and supporting the pressure plate, means reacting through said frame and co-operating with said pressure plate to bias the said plate to an extended position biasing the stack to- ;wards the dispensing opening in said pivotable housing, said pressure plate having a retracted position non-bias- 8 ing said :stack, mannallylreleasable retaining means for retaining said platein retracted position with said hous- :ing;closed, said retaining means being operative upon :release of, said :plate to simultaneously secure said hous- .ing against movement into open position.

.4. 11-11 a dispensing device for a stack of sheets to be .dispensed, a generally fiat frame, a housing having a stack-receiving cavity and, having a dispensing opening normally extending generally parallel to said frame through which sheets may be dispensed, means pivotally interconnecting the'housing and the frame to permit the entire housing to be moved between an open stack-loading position and a stack-enclosing position, a pressure -;plate supported within the housing to support a stack of .sheets, means .carried by said frame and supporting the pressure plate, means reacting throughsaid frame and co-operating with said pressure plate to bias the said plate to an extended position biasing the stack towards the dispensing opening in said pivotable housing, said pressure plate having a retracted position non-biasing rsaid stack, latch means comprising a sheet metal operating member pivotally secured to said frame in such :a manner as not to be operatively influenced by gravity and having upstanding-ears, a first of said ears adapted rto be shifted into latching engagement with said plate,

the otherv of said ears adapted-to be engaged and shifted :by-said plate when said plate is substantially fully retracted to shift the operating member to latch said first ear into said engagement and thereby latch said plate in retracted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 393,934 Talbott Dec. 4, 1888 817,003 Robinson Apr. 3, 1906 1,086,384 McKinnon Feb. 10, 1914 1,209,317 Marcuse Dec. 19, 1916 1,661,357 .Boivin Mar. 6, 1928 1,962,230 Biggs June 12, 1934 1,993,885 Horwitt Mar. 12, 1935 (2,160,412 Broeren etval. May 30, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS .45 65,463 ,Austria June 25, 1914 613,910 'France Sept. 6, 1926 

